Meet the Gold Rush Elementary Leadership Team!

Jennifer Brown, Principal

Libby Bergner, Assistant Principal

Kristi Barta, Building Resource Teacher

Digger, Positive Behavior Specialist

Jenny Brown, Principal

Jenny.Brown@dcsdk12.org

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Libby Bergner, Assistant Principal

I am so fortunate to be a part of the Gold Rush community where everyone is teaching and everyone is learning.  Gold Rush is dedicated to making learning a joyful, lifelong experience for everyone.

I believe every child is unique and possesses the ability to do great things in the world.  I believe in developing this potential by celebrating differences, fostering creativity and collaboration, and establishing strong relationships with students and their families.  I believe children should be in a safe place where they can express their opinions and nurture their own ideas.

This is my 14th year in education where I have spent most of my time as a classroom teacher.  I have taught every level from preschool to sixth grade, with the exception of third.  I was part of the core team that opened Gold Rush in 2008.  Here, I have taught sixth and second graders.  This will be my first year in administration and I feel truly honored to continue serving Gold Rush in a different capacity.

I love this community and live here in Parker with my husband and four children.  Andrew is a senior at Legend High School.  Freddie is four and attends preschool at Gold Rush.  My future Retrievers include Tatum who is three, and Emerson who is 18 months.  We are a very busy family and enjoy sports, traveling, and being with relatives.

I am very excited and look forward to working with students, families, and the community to make this an incredible school year!

Libby.Bergner@dcsdk12.org

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Kristi Barta, Building Resource Teacher

I love my position of Building Resource Teacher (BRT) at Gold Rush Elementary! I am new to this position this year after spending 28 years in a classroom (and loving every minute).  I was born and raised in North Dakota and began my career there.  I have most recently been a 5th grade teacher here at Gold Rush.  This is a wonderful school full of amazing kids and teachers, and I have been proud to have my own children attend here.

My role on the leadership team includes the following:

Staff Developer:  Plan, prepare, and implement staff development based on student data, teacher needs, and best practices in instruction and assessment.  I also communicate information on resources such as instructional materials, training opportunities, and district information.

Mentor:  Provide support for new teachers to meet state and district induction requirements.  I also mentor all teachers through professional development opportunities.

Coach:  Assist teachers with informal goal setting and provide support of student learning through observation, modeling, co-teaching, feedback, and data analysis.

Facilitator:  Assist with processes and meetings at school and district levels.  For me, this includes the role of Gifted and Talented coordinator.  As the G/T Coordinator at Gold Rush, I work with parents and teachers in writing and tracking Advanced Learning Plans.

Collaborative Member of the Building Leadership Team:  Collaborate with our leadership team in planning, preparing, and implementing professional learning opportunities based on school and district goals.  I am also a "go to" person for student enrichment and learning opportunities. 

kristi.barta@dcsdk12.org

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Digger,  Positive Behavior Specialist

Hi!  My name is Digger, and I am the mascot at Gold Rush Elementary, home of the Golden Retrievers!  The golden retriever was selected by children to be our mascot because we are kind, loyal, smart and service oriented (just like our students).  I have the wonderful job of spending time with the class that earned the most golden tickets for the week. Students earn golden tickets for making good choices and going for the GOLD, which means they are following our school rules:  Give respect, Own your actions, Listen and learn, and Do your best. 

Each day, the Words of Wisdom read during morning announcements help students think about making positive choices.  It is a really close call each week determining where I will spend my time our students are so well behaved!  We also honor "Top Dogs" each trimester.  These are the students that earn all + on the progress report in the Life Skills section.

If you would like to know more about ethical behavior at Gold Rush, please refer to the Parent Handbook!

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